Hydraulic motor with wide vane and duplicate ports for cushioning vane and pressurized seals



July 9, 1957 c. LUDwlG Er AL 2,798,462

HYDRAULIC MOTOR WITH WIDE VANE AND DUPLICATE PORTS FOR CUSHIONI VAN SSURIZED SEALS Filed Feb. 15, 195e 2 sheets sneet 1 g uw nunnmim Carl Ludwig. Charms H. 1%. .fred Reedmw,

INVENToRs W5/weze E July 9, 1957 c. LUDWIG r AL 2,798,462

HYDRAULIC MOTOR WITH WIDE vANE AND DUPLICATE Poms I FDR cUsHIoNING VANI; AND PREssuRIzED SEALs Filed Feb. l5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ig-a Caz-f2 Ludlviyf Cfmglesh'. Wheeler @D United States Patent i HYDRAULIC MOTOR WITH WIDE VANE AND DUPLICATE PORTS FOR CUSHIONING VANE AND PRESSURIZED SEALS Carl Ludwig, Charles H. Wheeler, and Alfred R. Deedman, Canton, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Ex-Cell-O Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application February 15, 195,6, Serial No. 565,652 6 Claims. (Cl. 121-97) The invention relates to hydraulic motors of the oscillating type in which a vane is mounted upon the shaft and adapted to be oscillated within the motor housing against opposite sides of a fixed shoe therein, by fluid pressure alternately admitted to the housing through ports on opposite sides of the shoe.

Under present practice, in hydraulic motors of this general type, the movement of the shaft is abruptly stopped by contact of the vane with the stationary shoe, producing considerable impact because `of the high pressure fluid operating the motor.

Because of the high fluid pressure maintained Within the motor housing, and the necessary mechanical clearances required between the working parts of the motor, there is a tendency for fluid to be forced from one chamber of the housing to the other, equalizing the pressure and thus cutting down the efficiency of the motor.

lt is therefore an object of the invention to provide a hydraulic motor of the oscillating type which overcomes these disadvantages and difficulties.

Another object is to provide such a hydraulic motor having means for cushioning the Vane at the end of each stroke.

A further object is to provide such cushioning means for the vane including duplicate ports in the housing on each side of the shoe for alternately admitting fluid under pressure to the housing and exhausting it therefrom, and a vane of such Width that as it approaches the end of each stroke it will close one port on that side causing all of the Huid to exhaust through the other port.

A still further object is` to provide cushioning means of this character in which the two ports on each side are connected to a single pipe line leading to a uid pump, and valve means is provided between the ports of each pair for controlling the exhausting of iiuid therethrough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic motor of the type referred to having sealing means on the shoe and vane operated by fluid pressure from within the housing to provide low break away and full contact when in operation.

A further object is to provide non-return valves in such sealing means for preventing fluid pressure admitted to the seals from one chamber of the housing from exhausting into the other chamber of the housing.

A still further object is to provide such sealing means comprising substantially rectangular rubberized sealing members located 'in rectangular grooves around the shoe and vane, said sealing members having continuous grooves in their inner sides communicating with oil passages located through opposite sides of the shoe and vane.

Another object is to provide such a hydraulic motor in which the vane is bolted to the shaft to permit the use of the same type of seals as on the shoe, and to permit heat treatment of the shaft.

The above and other objects, apparent from the drawings and following description, maybe attained, -the `above described difculties overcome and the advantages and results obtained, by the apparatus, construction, arrange- 2,798,462` Patented July 9, 1957 ICC 2 ment and combinations, subcombinations and parts which comprise the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which, illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principle, being set forth in detail in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In general terms, the invention may be briey described as comprising a cylindric housing or body formed of an annular member with similar heads attached to opposite ends thereof. A shaft is located axially through the housing and journalled in the heads, and a shoe is fixed within the housing and has a running fit with the shaft.

A spaced pair of ports is provided in the housing on each side of the shoe, both ports of each pair being connected to a single pipe line leading to the pump. As in usual practice, valve means is interposed in this pipe line for alternately admitting liuid under pressure from the pump to one side of the housing and exhausting fluid from the other side of the housing to the pump.

A control valve is located between the ports of each pair, so as to restrict the discharge of fluid from the housing through the second -or auxiliary port of each pair, and a vane is mounted upon the shaft and is of such Width that as it approaches the end of each stroke it will shut off the iirst or main port on that side, causing the remainder of the fluid to be discharged through the auxiliary port which is restricted by a control valve.

A check valve is also provided between the ports of each pair, preventing duid from the auxiliary port to be discharged therethrough, but permitting free inlet of fluid under pressure therethrough from the main port. The vane is bolted to the shaft so as to permit heat treatment of the shaft before the vane is attached thereto, This also permits the same type of sealing device to be used upon the vane and the shoe.

For this purpose, a substantially rectangular groove is located entirely around the shoe, and a similar groove is located entirely around the vane. A substantially rectangular sealing member, formed of a rubberized compound, rubber or other flexible material, is located in each of these grooves and provided on its inner side with a continuous groove communicating with a passage leading through one side of the vane and through both sides of the shoe, whereby oil under pressure within the housing will expand these flexible sealing members into sealing contact with the shaft and with the inner Walls of the housing.

Non-return valves are located in the oil passages in the shoe so as to prevent oil under pressure from passing through the shoe from one side thereof to the other.

The invention having thus been described in general terms, reference is now made to the accompanying draw ings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which;

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view through a hydraulic motor embodying the invention showing the vane at the end of a stroke; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the motor showing the vane atyan intermediate point;

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention `illustrated, in which similar numerals indicate similar parts throughout the views, the cylin-A dric housing or `body of the motor may comprise the annular member, indicated generally at 1t), and a pair ofsimilar heads, indicated generally at 11, connected to opposite ends thereof as by the cap screws 12. y

Outwardly disposed bearing portions 1.3 are formed integrally upon the heads 11, within which are journalled the journal portions 14 of theshaft, the central portion,

15 of which is preferably of larger diameter, as shown in the drawings, and as customary in such hydraulic motors.

At one point within the housing a stationary shoe or barrier 16 is mounted, the inner edge of which is preferably tapered as at 17 and formed so as to have a running lit with the central portion of the shaft. The journals of the shaft may be sealed so as to prevent uid under pressure from being forced out of the housing around the journals.

For this purpose an annular groove 18 is formed in each bearing portion 13 surrounding the adjacent journal portion of the shaft, and a rubber O-ring or the like, as indicated at 19, is located within each groove.

A spaced pair of ports is located through the housing on each side of the shoe. Each pair of ports comprises an auxiliary port 20 communicating with the interior of the housing at the adjacent side of the shoe and a main port 21 communicating with the interior of the housing at a point spaced from the shoe.

Each of the main ports 21 is adapted to be connected by conventional pipe lines 21a and 2lb with a pump (not shown) with valve means interposed in the pipe line for alternately admitting fluid under pressure from the pump to one port 21 and exhausting uid from the interior of the housing through the other port 21.

The auxiliary and main ports 20 and 21 of each pair communicate with each other through a restricted passage 22, and an adjustable needle valve or the like, as indicated at 23, is provided in the housing for controlling each of the restricted passages 22.

Each of these needle valves is shown as having a threaded shank 24 for adjustment within the threaded bore 25 in the housing, a nut 26 with liuid seal 27 holding the needle valve in adjusted position, and a cap nut 28 with seal being threaded upon the outer end of vthe threaded shank 24 of the needle valve for locking the nut 26 in adjusted position.

A larger passage 30 also provides communication between the ports 20 and 21 of each pair. This passage is normally closed, as by the spring-loaded ball 3i, so as to prevent the discharge of Huid from the auxiliary port 20 to the main port 21 while admitting fluid under pressure to pass from the main port 21 to the auxiliary port 20.

The vane, indicated generally at 32, is of considerably greater width than the distance between the ports 20 and 21 of each pair, and is detachably connected to the central portion 15 of the shaft as by the cap screws 33. This construction permits the shaft to be heat treated before the Vane is attached thereto, and also permits the use of a novel type of sealing means upon both the vane and the shoe.

Describing first the sealing means upon the shoe, a substantially rectangular groove 34 is formed entirely around the shoe 16, and a substantially rectangular sealing member 35 is located in this groove. This sealing member is formed of suitable flexible material such as a rubberized composition or the like, and, as shown in the drawings, is substantially square in cross section with a continuous groove 36 extending entirely around its inner side.

A vertical passage 37 in the vane communicates at opposite ends with the groove 36 in the sealing member 35, and this passage 37 also communicates with the oppositely disposed passages 38 leading through opposite sides of the shoe.

For the purpose of preventing fluid under pressure from passing through the passages 38 from one side of the shoe to the other, a non-return valve is provided in each of the passages 38. For this purpose each passage 38 may be greatly enlarged, as indicated at 39, to receive the check valve casing 40 which is threaded into the shoe as indicated at 41. Each passage 38 communicates with the upper end of the enlarged portion 39, as best shown in Fig. l.

A valve seat 42 is formed in the lower or outer end of each valve casing 40, and a ball valve 43 is normally seated thereon, as by the coil spring 44 interposed between the ball and the perforate screw cap 45 threaded into the upper end portion of the valve casing 40.

It will thus be seen that oil under pressure from either chamber of the housing may unseat the corresponding ball 43 and pass through the corresponding passage 33 to the vertical passage 37 placing the flexible sealing member 35 under pressure, while the ball 43 in the other passage 38 will remain closed preventing the oil from passing through the other side of the shoe to the other chamber of the housing.

Each end of the shoe 32 is provided with a recess or pocket 46, adapted to accommodate theprotruding end of the check valve casing 40 at the end of each stroke of the vane, as shown in Fig. 1.

The outer portion of the shoe 16 is beveled on each side, as shown at 47 in Fig.41, at the point where the auxiliary port 20 communicates with the interior of the housing. Thus, when the vane 32 is at the end of either stroke, as shown in said figure, the vane may be in contact with the adjacent side of the shoe without closing the auxiliary port 20, so that when oil under pressure is admitted to this side of the motor, it will pass from the auxiliary port 20 into the housing against the outer portion 48 of the adjacent end of the vane, starting movement of the vane in the opposite direction.

The vane 32 is provided with seals similar to those shown upon the shoe 16 and above described. For this purpose a substantially rectangular groove 49 is located entirely around the vane on each side of the center thereof and a substantially rectangular flexible sealing member 50, of rubberized composition material or the like, is located in each groove.

Each of the sealing members 50 is provided with a continuous groove 51 around its inner side and oil pressure within the housing is admitted thereto to expand the sealing members 50 into sealing contact with the shaft and inner walls of the housing.

For this purpose passages 52 are located through the vane, communicating at opposite ends With the continuous grooves 51 in the sealing members 50, and oppositely disposed passages 53 communicate with the passages 52 and extend out through opposite sides of the vane so that the flexible sealing members 50 will be constantly under pressure from oil within the housing.

In the operation of the hydraulic motor thus described, assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. l, with the vane at the end of its counter-clockwise stroke, in contact with the adjacent side of the shoe 16, and covering the main port 21, when uid under pressure is admitted through the pipe 21a at the right side of the motor, to the corresponding main port 21, the oil will be prevented from passing directly from this main port to the interior of the housing because the Vane 32 at this time entirely closes this port.

The oil under pressure will pass up through the passage 30, unseating the spring-loaded ball valve 31, and will pass through the auxiliary port 20 and into the interior of the housing at the adjacent bevelled portion 47 of the shoe, striking the exposed end portion of the vane 32 and moving it in clockwise direction.

As the vane passes the end of the corresponding port 21 and uncovers the same, the oil under pressure will then be admitted to the interior of the housing through this main port 21, continuing to move the vane and shaft in clockwise direction.

As the vane reaches the end of either stroke and closes off the corresponding main valve 21 through which oil is being discharged from the housing at this time, the remaining oil in this chamber 'of the housing will be discharged through the auxiliary port 20 and restricted passage 22 to the corresponding main port 21 and then.

back to the pump through the pipe 21a or 2lb, as the case may be.

This will greatly slow down the discharge of oil from the housing, cushioning the vane and causing the movement thereof to be considerably slowed so that there will not be any impact as thevane contacts the adjacent side of the shoe. y

`It will also be obvious that during operation of the motor in either direction, oil pressure from within the housing will be admitted through the passages 38 and 37 to the exible sealing members 35 in the shoe, and through the passages 53 and 52 to the similar exible sealingV members .50 in the vane, holding these sealing members in sealing contact with the shaft and the inner Walls of the housing, so as to prevent the leakage of Huid under pressure from one chamber of the housing to the other, thus preventing equalizing of pressureY in the chambers.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way fof example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A hydraulic motor comprising a cylindric housing, a shaft located axially through the housing and journalled therein, a shoe mounted in the housing and having a running t with the shaft, a vane, screws detachably connecting the vane to the shaft, the vane having a running tit with the inner walls of the housing, there being a substantially rectangular groove located entirely around the vane on each side of said screws, a substantially rectangular sealing member formed of flexible material located in each of said grooves, there being a continuous groove anound the inner side of each sealing member, passages located through opposite sides of the vane and communicating with said continuous grooves in the sealing members, whereby fluid under pressure will pass from the interior of the housing through said passages to expand the sealing members into sealing contact with the shaft and with the inner walls of the housing, and a port in the housing on each side of the shoe for alternately admitting fluid to the housing through one port and discharging fluid from the housing through the rother port.

2. A hydraulic motor comprising a cylindric housing, a shaft located axially through the housing and journalled therein, a shoe mounted in the housing and having a running tit with the shaft, a vane mounted on the shaft and having ra running tit with the inner walls of the housing, a pfort in the housing on each side of the shoe for alternately admitting uid to the housing through one port and discharging fluid from the housing through the other port, there being a substantially rectangular groove located entirely around the shoe, a substantially rectangular sealing member formed of exible material located in said groove, there being a continuous groove around the inner side of said sealing member, passages located through opposite sides of the shoe and communicating with said continuous groove in the sealing member, whereby uid under pressure will pass from the linterior of the housing through said passages to expand the sealing member into sealing contact with the shaft and with the inner walls of the housing, and check valves in said passages for preventing the return of fluid from said passages to the interior of the housing.

3. A hydraulic motor comprising a cylindric housing,

ashaft located axially through the housing and journalled therein, a shoe mounted in the housing and having a running fit with the shaft, a vane mounted on the shaft and having a running tit with the inner walls of the housing, a port in the housing on each side lof the shoe for alternately admitting uid in the housing through one port and discharging fluid from the housing through the other port, there being a substantially rectangular groove located entirely around the shoe, a substantially rectangular sealing member formed of flexible material located in said groove, there being a continuous groove around the inner side `of said sealing member, passages located through opposite sides of the shoe and communicating with said continuous groove in the sealing member, and means in said passages for permitting iiuid under pressure from the interior of the housing to enter either passage to expand the sealing member into sealing contact with the shaft and with the inner walls yof the housing, while preventing the return of fluid through the other passage to the interior of the housing.

4. A hydraulic motor comprising a cylindric housing, a shaft located axially through the housing and journalled therein, a shoe mounted in the housing and having a running fit with the shaft, a vane, screws detachably connecting the vane to the shaft, the vane having a running iit with the inner walls of the housing, there being a substantially rectangular groove located entirely around the vane on each side of said screws, a substantially rectangular sealing member formed of flexible material located in each of said grooves, there being a continuous groove around the inner side of each sealing member, passages located through opposite sides of the vane and communicating with said continuous grooves in the sealing members, whereby fluid pressure on either side of the vane will pass through the corresponding passage into the corresponding continuous groove to expand the corresponding sealing member into sealing contact with the shaft and with the inner walls of the housing, and a port in the housing on each side of the shoe for alternately admitting fluid to the housing through one port and discharging iluid from the housing through the other port.

5. A hydraulic motor comprising a cylindric housing, a shaft located axially through the housing and journalled Itherein, a shoe mounted in the housing and having a run- 4ning fit with the shaft, a vane, screws detachably connecting the vane to the shaft, the vane having a running tit with the inner walls of the housing, there being a substantially rectangular groove located entirely around the vane on each side of said screws, a substantially rectangular sealing member formed of exible material located in each of said grooves, there being a continuous groove around the inner side of each sealing member, passages located through opposite sides of the vane and communicating with said continuous grooves in the sealing members, and a port in the housing on each side of the shoe for alternately admitting liuid to the housing through one port and discharging fluid from the housing through the other port, so that said sealing members are alternately expanded into sealing Contact with the shaft and with lthe inner walls of the housing when uid is admitted to the housing through the corresponding port.

6. A hydraulic motor comprising a cylindric housing, a shaft located axially through the housing and journalled therein, a shoe mounted in the housing and having a running fit with the shaft, a vane mounted on the shaft and having a running fit with the inner walls of the housing, a port in the housing on each side of the shoe for alternately admitting fluid to the housing through one port and discharging tiuid from the housing through the other port, there being a substantially rectangular groove located entirely around the shoe, a substantially rectangular sealing member formed of flexible material located in said groove, there being a continuous groove around the inner side of said sealing member, passages located through opposite sides of the shoe and communicating with said continuous 7 groove in the sealing member, and a check vale in each References Cited in the le of this patent' passage, whereby uid under pressure will pass from the t 4UNITED STATES PATENTS interior of the housing through either passage to expand the sealing member into sealing contact with the shaft 8401877. Steedman -v Jan 3 1907 and with 'the inner wans of the housing, whne the Check 5 1,494,025 Royal May 13, 1924 valve in the other passage will prevent the return of fluid XIQ HOOYdOUk --les- 32g,

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TOUS Sal 0 161 Passage 0 e 111 erlOr 0 e ousmg 2,459,475 van Almelo Jan- 18 1949 2,540,903 Moushey et a1. Feb. 6, 1951 10 2,633,105 Lasater Mar. 31,V 1953 

